Just a 15 minute walk from the Shannon Blueway trailhead is The Shed Distillery Experience, where Greg stopped by for a tour and a tasting of the iconic Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.  

“I couldn’t get over the fact that every single bottle of Gunpowder Gin is made there and sent around the world. Plus, the bar at the end of the distillery tour is just gorgeous. The experience is so well done, and it’s a family affair. It’s so local, but such a strong brand.”

Another surprising element of the Hidden Heartlands is the food scene, which Greg says completely surpassed his expectations. One evening, Greg and Laura travelled to the village of Dromahair for dinner in the Riverbank Restaurant, which sits on the curve of the River Bonet. “Dinner in the Riverbank was gorgeous,” says Greg. “It has a pub feel to it, but the food was top-notch. We were amazed at how well-rounded the menu was. There’s a nice and Irish feel to it.”

Greg was also impressed by Osta W8 in nearby Manorhamilton, which he describes as a “chilled café with really good food, like soup and falafel sandwiches, and great coffee.”

They also ate at the Red Bank Restaurant, in Carrick-on-Shannon. “It’s absolutely beautiful,” says Greg. “They have this outdoor canopy set up so you can sit outside, and there’s a big tree through the middle of the space with fairy lights all over it. It was a bit of a mixture of fine dining and pub grub, with dishes like burgers and chips in a really nice setting."

There are points of historical interest all around Leitrim and Roscommon, but one of the more unique attractions is the Arigna Mining Experience. Admitting that he knew nothing about it before visiting, Greg set off to Ireland’s first coal mining museum to learn about the men who worked there for hundreds of years.

“The tours are led by former miners, which is really cool,” says Greg. “We had a guy named Gerry leading us around, and he was so knowledgeable. He gave us first-hand experience of what it was like, and told us all the stories about the mine shaft. Seeing what these guys had to do back in the day really made me realise that life isn’t that bad now!”

Life seemed even sweeter for the pair when it came to their accommodation. Greg and his sister stayed at Kilronan Castle, an estate that dates back to the 18^th century.

“The grounds at Kilronan Castle are beautiful,” says Greg. “Our room looked out over the lake, which was absolutely stunning. It’s really old school – there’s a great sense of history, but then you can sit with a drink by the fire in the lounge in the evening. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

With so much of the local landscape dominated by hills, lakes and rivers, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and get active. Greg and Laura set off for a hike from the Organic Centre up to Fowley’s Falls, a multi-level cascade waterfall, which Greg couldn’t resist leaping into.

“I jumped in and it was so refreshing. You can swim straight in underneath the waterfall, too. It’s freezing, so it’s not for the faint hearted! But it’s a lovely little treat at the end of a walk.”

Things were a bit more adrenaline fuelled at Lough Key Forest Park, where the pair strapped on harnesses and helmets to have a go at ziplining.

“You’d definitely want to have your wits about you!” says Greg. “But it was really good fun. You get taught how to do everything and then you’re let off on your own. One of the stages gets really high, but you don’t have to go to any level you don’t want to. You just go as high as you want. You’d be wrecked by the end of the day!”

It was lucky, then, that while the next activity was still fairly energetic, there was help to be found. There are 8km of cycle trails at Lough Key, but if you are too tired to pedal, Greg says that the e-bikes on offer can be a lifesaver. “The electric bikes make it that little bit easier, especially after zip lining!”

After a whistlestop weekend away, Greg was left wanting more. “I was just amazed by how much the region had to offer,” says Greg. “There were so many activities that you wouldn’t even realise were available. We had such a fun couple of days.”

“It would never have popped into my head to go to Leitrim or Roscommon before. But now I can’t wait to go back. It makes you realise just how good our country is.”